Friction clutch



Apr. 17,1923.v 1,452,349

' 'c. G. OBERLEY ET AL FRIC-TION CLUTCH Filed A ril 20, 1920 :s Sheets-Sheet 1 TIE-- 3 Apr. 17, 1923.

v C. G. OBERLEY ET AL FRICTION CLUTCH 1 5 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed April 20, 1920 Charles G, Obs/lag Bade/f Witnesses [1011, W 6 Gitouwq Apr. '17, 1923.

C. G. OBERLEY ET AL FRICTION CLUTCH Filed April 20, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 Rabzr/ 6/1 /10 Patented Apr. 17, 1923.

UNITED STATES Pfii i iii l l QFIQE.

FRICTIQN orc rcrr.

Application filedApril 20, 1920. Serial No. 375,321.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES G. OBER- LEY and ROBERT GRIGNON, citizens of the United States, residing at Munising, in the county of Alger and State of Michigan, have in vented new and useful Improvements in Friction Clutches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in friction clutches of that type wherein two concentric drum-like parts and intermediate clutch band means are employed, the function of the clutch band means being to connect the companion parts whereby one is driven from theother, or to disconnect the companion parts whereby the driving part runs free.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a simply constructed clutch which shall have great efliciency in the operation of the band-connecting means, which shall be adaptable without the necessity of adjustment or rearrangement of any parts for driving rotation in either direction, and wherein the elements are specially arranged to avoid side pull on the companion drum. members which would tend to interfere with their alinement; to provide for ready adj ustment of the tension of the bands; and to eration as regards the connection or'di'sconnection of the companion drum-like parts.

. An embodiment of the invention is'illus trated in the accompanying drawings, where- 1n t Figure 1 is an elevation.

Figure 2 is an elevation from which the inner drum-like part ha. been omitted in order to show the internally arranged'elements.

Figure 3 is a view showing the outer drum in section on line 3-3, Figure 1, and the inner drum in elevation.

Figure 4; is a vertical longitudinalsection on the line'4-4, Figure 2, showing the drumlike parts as operatively connected.

Figure 5-is1a-similar sectional view on line 5-5, Figure 1, and at right angles to the sectional line'ofFigure 4.

Figure 6'is a perspectiveview of one of the operating heads. Y

Figure :7 is a perspective view of one of the operating levers.

. tziilnilar characters of reference designate provide for simplicity and facility'of op corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In the example disclosed, power is to be transferred from one shaft to another, the two shafts being shown at 1 and 2 in alining relation. The companion drum-like partsabove referred to are shown at 3 and 4, the part 8 being keved or otherwise fast on the shaft 1 and enclosing the part 4: which is fast on the shaft 2.

Two clutch'bands 5 and 6 are provided, these being arranged in lateral adjacency and each having an extent of nearly a circle, the terminals of one band being located in substantially diametrically opposite rela tion to the terminals of the other band. The terminals of the band 5 are connected to operating levers 7 and 7 and the terminals of the band 6 are connected to operating levers 8 and 8. The part 3 includes a flat web!) to which the levers 7 and 8 are directly'pivoted, as at 10. The respective companion levers 7 and 8 are carried by an adjusting ring 11 and are pivoted, as at 12, at diametrically opposite points of said ring. The ring'll is mounted upon a concentric annular shoulder 9 which projects beyond the rear side of the web 9 and the pivots 12 project through suitable apertures let in said web. The ring 11 is preferably provided with circumferentially curved slots 15 located at diametrically opposite points through which project the shanks of suitable fastenings 16 which are secured in the web 9,ithese 'fastenings holding the ring against both endwise and circumferential displacement. The ring 11 is adjusted circumferentially by a screw 17 which is threaded in a lug 18 carried by said ring and, projecting at a suitable angle to the radius, exerts'its thrust against a lug '19 provided on the part at the outer'side of the'web 9. The levers 7 and 7 and 8 and 8 are pivoted somewhat near their outer extremities where they are provided with angular arms 20 which serve fortheir connection to the ends of the bands 5 and 6 in the relation explained. The body portions of said levers are arranged'between the part 4 and the web 9 and their inner 7 and 8 and the other is common to the levers 7 and 8. The operating heads 21 are arranged in diametrically opposite relation immediately adjacent the web 9 and under the levers with which they coope rate. Each ope 'atinp; head has a forwardly directed V- shapcd projection, whose convex side is is lated syuimetrically to the adjacent lever terminals and provides two angularly disposed surfaces .3 for cooperation with said lever terminals. The V shaped projection 22 is raised merely to provide walls for the re cesses within which the ends of the pairs of levers 7 and S and 7 and 8 are retained.

.he lei T. 8 and h are spaced from the web 9 from their outer ends a distance equalto the thickness of the opcratinp heads 21 upon which they lie. At their pivotal bosses 10 and 12 the said levers are provided with spacing projections 12, Figure 7, of the same thickness as the operating heads and they areprovided with third arms having projections 18 provided with smooth antifriction surfaces which ride upon similar anti-friction surfaces 13 and 13" on the web 9, the height of the projections 13 and the anti-friction surfaces being such that each of the levers is held at a uniform distance from the web 9 by itsthree points of support. The anti-friction surfaces 13 and 13 act as smooth sliding surfaces for the third arms ofthe levers and are elongated to accommodate the travel of the projections 13 when said levers are operated. The anti-friction surfaceslEi are longerv than the anti-friction surfaces 13 to allow for the movement of the levers 7 and S when the adjusting ring is turned.

The inner terminal portions of the levers are normally moved inward by springs 24, preferably retractile spiral. springs, which connect. the levers of the respective pairs and inthis way the operating heads 21 are held against the longitudinally movable pins 25 bywvhich they are operated. said pins working symmetrically against the concave surface 26 of the projection 22 and having cam terminals 27 which are effective to provide for the lateral radial. movement, simultaneously in opposite directions, of the heads 21. The pins 25 are parallel to the alining shaft and are provided with shanks 27 which project slidably through bearings 28 carried by the web 9. At their outer ends said pins are connected to an operating yoke 29 by which they are moved in either direction. lVhen said pins are moved inward, as shown in Fi gu res 1 to 4:, they effect the lateral movement of the heads 21 in the outward direc tion, said heads, in turn. moving the levers to apply both of the bands upon the periphery of the part a with the requisite degree of force. -Disengagement of theband's is efiectedhy'movingthe'pins 25 outward. as

shown in Figure the springs 24: at such time moving the levers whereby the bands are certainly disengaged from the periphery of the part at and the inner terminals of the leversdacting on the heads 21, cause said heads to move inward as permitted by the cam outlineofthepins It will, ofcoursc. be apparent that the operating heads are held in operative position without the aid of positive lastcnings. said heads being con lined by the parts with which they cooperate against displacement rel atively to said parts,

in the manner and direction declutch band, the pivotal support of one lever being; fixed and that of the other'being adjustable. radially movable operating heads embracing the inner endsof said levers for tightening the band.

2. In a friction clutch. a pair of drum-like members, a clutch band for e'ngagement with one of said members. a pair of levers pivot ally supported on the other member, each connected at its outer end to one end of said clutch band, the pivotal'support of one lever being fixed and that of theother being adjustable, radially movable operating heads engaging the inner ends of said levers, and cams movable axially of said clutch for actuating: said operatingheads.

f). in a friction clutch, a pair of drum-like members, a clutch hand for engagement with one of said members, a pair of levers pivotally supported on the other member. cach connected at its outer end to one end of said clutch band. and freely mounted. radially movable operating heads engaging: the inner ends of said levers and cooperating:- smooth contactingsurfaces on said levers and the member to which said levers are secured.

4. .ln a friction clutch, a pair of drunrlike parts, oneof which has a flat web. a pair of clutch bands operative to connect said parts and eachyha'vinp their terminals in adj accncy, the terminals of one band being located in opposite relation to the terminals of the other band. oppositely locatedpairs of levers whose outer ends are connected to the respective terminals of the bands; the levers of one pair having their inner en (15' adjacent the inner ends of the respective levers of the other pair, radially movable operating heads, each bearing against the adjacent inner ends of said levers, and means for moving said operating heads.

5. In a friction clutch, a pair of drum-like parts, one of which hasa fiat Web, an ad justing ring mounted concentric to said web, a pair of clutch bands operative to connect said parts and each having their terminals in adjacency, the terminals of one band being located in opposite relation to the terminals of the other band, oppositely located pairs of levers Whose outer ends are connected to the 15 respective terminals of the bands, oppositely located levers of the pairs being pivoted to said Web and to said ring, respectively, the levers of onepair having their inner ends adjacent the inner ends of the respective levers of the other pair, radially movable operating heads, each bearingagainst the CHARLES G. OBERLE Y.

ROBERT GRIGNON.

Witnesses:

G. D. DErrz, L. B. MCDERMOTT. 

